Where will Leicester City finish in the league this season?
Men: I think we’ll scrape into the top half like last season. Perhaps 10th rather than 8th this time.
People talk about an injury-free campaign but let’s be realistic - even without the kind of decimation we faced, we’re still going to be without players for periods of time and there are still irreplaceable members of the squad.
I’d be surprised if Aston Villa and Newcastle, to name just two, don’t improve drastically on last season’s finishes, and I don’t see us overhauling any of the seven that finished above us in May. Whether that’s acceptable for the majority of the fanbase, I’m not sure. I’d like to think I’d be fine with it given this summer’s transfer window struggles, but the reality could be a lot harder to take.
Women: Last season there were clearly 4 teams better than everyone else and one in chaos. If you take those teams out of the equation and look at results against the rest, LCFC Women got zero points from 5 games under Jonathan Morgan and 7 points from 7 games under Lydia Bedford. Those 7 points - wins against Brighton and West Ham, followed by a goalless draw at home to Reading, are what gives you hope for the forthcoming season.
Strengthening this summer was vital and the incoming transfers so far all seem to make sense. All three permanent additions have WSL experience at clubs in that middle group within the league. Freya Gregory was a good loan signing last season and hopefully Carrie Jones can have a similar impact this time.
I’m going to be optimistic and say 10th, staying clear of relegation trouble.
David Bevan
Men: Despite having made no signings so far I think we have a good enough squad to finish in the top 8 this season.
Rodgers said we were having a ‘rebuild’ this summer which has now changed to more of a ‘mental reshuffle’. That supposed rebuild helped fans to think positively about this season but now it hasn’t happened there are negative expectations.
But when looking at the squad we already have, with the new signings from last season embedded further and all key players fit, they are more than able to have a great season and compete. Of course, a couple of signings would be ideal but I think we’ll be okay.
Women: I think LCFC Women will be able to avoid a relegation battle this season. After a transitional year last year, the new signings and full pre-season with Lydia Bedford will leave the club in a good position to become a stable side in the WSL.
Jack Johnson
Men: I'm going to ever so slightly revise my expectations and say 7th – I think there could still be a bit of a bridge to gap this year and it'll be hard for us to do that. The top two are set; Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea will almost certainly be fine in the top six barring disaster; Manchester United have to improve under Erik ten Hag. They were awful for much of last year and still finished 6th.
That will hopefully leave us as best of the rest, battling with (in my opinion) Newcastle and West Ham. No Europe is a huge advantage for us over the latter, and we should be more settled than the former. And you know what? I'd be happy with 7th, too: it's a perfectly viable route back into Europe.
Women: It’s another daunting task in 2022-23. I'd hate to just say 'bottom', but LCFC Women can't rely on Birmingham being in chaos this time around. Promoted Liverpool were rightfully ridiculed for relegation before and won't make the same mistakes when it comes to a lack of investment, and then it's a case of considered who might struggle with us when the other sides are so well established. But sod it: 11th. Lydia Bedford is well bedded in now and will have hopefully identified plenty of areas for improvement. Let us pray...
Joe Brewin
Men: My gut instinct is that it will be very similar, if not the same as last season. Close to the best of the rest and just inside the top ten. It's hard to see how we push up to that next level with the same squad (assuming we continue to sign nobody and retain the key players)? The investment and money other clubs around us have spent or are still spending is something we can't match and while it doesn't guarantee that their signings will gel or settle quickly, their immediate position looks stronger.
I'm not in the camp that feels we are prime for relegation. I think there are clubs who will struggle more, and I'm certainly not going to panic on the basis of pre-season friendlies. But we are one of about six clubs who are definitely targeting the one or two coveted European spots left over by the traditional big six. It's tough to see how we improve on eighth or ninth this year as things stand.
One differential could be if we can pull off a Leicester miracle and keep our squad healthy. The way that James Maddison is storming through pre-season bodes well if he can stave off the injuries that have plagued him. It's been so long since we've seen our capabilities with a full-strength squad. There's also not the burden, albeit exciting one, of European games and travel, but we won't be the only club in that position. Plus we have the England outliers with a point to prove to Gareth Southgate and if that helps us capitalise too, win-win.
Helen Nutter
Men: I've been cautiously optimistic about this season, given the fact we're not playing in Europe and despite the lack of fresh faces in the squad but seeing Ricardo pick up another serious injury in pre-season had that sense of déjà vu about it.
Thankfully I feel like full-back is one of the areas we've got ample cover in, with Castagne, Justin, Thomas plus Amartey and Albrighton can do a job there for us but hopefully Ricky P gets back to full fitness soon as he's had no luck over the past couple of years.
Last season we were only four points behind West Ham and six behind Manchester United who are both in Europe again and we still scored the fifth highest number of goals. If we can sort out our defensive set pieces then I'm confident we'll remain a threat at the other end in the next campaign.
Arsenal and Tottenham look like they have done some good business, but they've also got European competition and I see no reason why we can't focus on the league and penetrating the top six once again. I'd also target the League Cup this season, which would be another great achievement and hopefully another trophy in the cabinet before March 2023!
Jordan Halford
